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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Coyote Learns To Sing<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Spotted Pony Boy searched through the brush moving further and further from the piece of bark he had propped against a boulder to use as his target. Grandfather Grey Elk had given him a strong small bow and seven beautiful arrows. Ah, there it was hiding among some sage. The last missing arrow had lodged at least five feet from the target! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> "I am no good at this! I will never be a good hunter," he wailed.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> "Come here little warrior," called a gentle voice. "Sit on this warm stone and rest a bit and I will tell you a story," promised Grandmother Spider. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> One day, coyote was wandering to and fro as he is wont to do. He heard a most wonderful sound. Quickly he ran down a hill and in a sheltered dip in the land he found a small bird building his nest. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> "Oh, what is that lovely sound," he asked?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> "I was singing," answered Meadow Lark.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> "I want to do that," decided coyote. "Teach me to sing," he demanded.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Meadow Lark cocked his head in surprise. "Well, when I am happy, I just open my beak and a song comes out," he faltered.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Coyote thought to himself, "I can do that."<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> So off he went to try out singing. He climbed back up the hill and sat down. He opened his mouth wide. Nothing happened. He became annoyed. He stomped back to where Meadow Lark was busily completing his nest. Coyote snatched the small bird up and growled.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> "You didn't teach me right, tell me how to sing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> "Oh, you are getting me all wet! Put me down and I will try to explain," begged Meadow Lark. "Um, I usually sing when I am happy. Try thinking of something that makes you happy, open your mouth and let the happiness flow out of you in sound," instructed meadow lark.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Coyote thought, "Well why didn't he say that the first time. I can do that!" He marched off to the top of the hill. He sat down and thought about chasing jack rabbits across the prairie. He thought how good they tasted when he caught them in his strong jaws. He opened his mouth in a big coyote grin huffed out some air but still a song didn't come out.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Coyote was getting impatient now. He made up his mind that he would learn the secret of singing from that bird or know the reason why. He stormed back down the hill.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> He snatched meadow lark from the edge of his nest and shook the poor little bird. He demanded, "Teach me to sing and be quick about it!"<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> "Ouch! Mind the feathers," cried the frightened bird. "Okay, Okay, you must think of something that makes you happy, in a place that you love. You must feel such joy in your heart that it feels as if it will burst if you don't let it out. Then you take a huge breath, open your mouth and allow that joy to flow out into the world as a song," he explained.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Coyote hurried off to his hill top. He sat down in the bright sun. He imagined his stomach full of good food. He thought about a lovely little coyote girl curled cozily against his side. He threw back his head, drew in a great breath and opened his mouth. Nothing happened. Now he was truly angry. If a tiny bird could sing, surely someone as big strong and clever as he was could do it. That bird was obviously keeping his singing secret from him on purpose. He would show him that making a fool of coyote was a dangerous thing to do. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> This time, meadow lark had flown up to gather some moss off a boulder to line his nest. He saw the angry coyote coming. "Oh dear, he is just too stupid to learn! I will put this small rock in my nest and hide," he thought to himself.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Coyote reached the nest in a real fury. He shouted at the stone sitting in the nest. "Teach me to sing or you will be sorry!" But little rock said nothing. For it is not in his nature to talk much.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Coyote snatched up the little rock and shook it. "Teach me to sing," he demanded. Little rock said nothing. He didn't know how to sing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> "If you don't teach me to sing, I'll bite you," threatened the angry coyote. Of course little rock said nothing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Coyote teeth did not frighten him! Coyote bit down on him. He broke a tooth and it really hurt. He threw back his head and cried, "Aaaaawoooo iiii iiii!" Coyote has been singing like that ever since.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Spotted pony boy laughed. Grandmother Spider said "Any new thing that is worth learning takes time and much practice. Only a foolish coyote would think it could be mastered at once. Don't give up so easily on your shooting. With enough practice, someday you will be a great hunter. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>DeAnna Quietwater Noriega<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cell: 573-544-3511<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Email: <a href="mailto:dqnoriega@gmail.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>dqnoriega@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Author of <i>Fifty Years of Walking with Friends<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i>https://www.dldbooks.com/dqnoriega/</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>